"Welcome to London's Lattes. What can I get for you?"

  He placed an order for two and distracted himself by studying the various items on display and for sale.

  "Just visiting or a new resident?" the woman asked as she worked.

  Everett glanced around and realized she spoke to him. "Uh, visiting. Any recommendations? I landed about an hour ago."

  A small smile pulled at the woman's mouth as she nodded.

  "Well, you're off to a good start," she said, setting one cup on the counter. "Best coffee around. Other than that, be sure to check out the pier, pier house and aquarium, and downtown Wilmington. There's a lot of history here if that's your sort of thing. Especially if you like pirates."

  "Pirates?"

  "Mmm. Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet... Oh, and there's the battleship North Carolina docked across the river as well. You could also do a day trip to Bald Head Island or Southport. There's no shortage of things to do here. It’s just a matter of preference."

  "I'll check them out. Thanks." He tucked the information back for reference later, hoping to explore the area with Isabel at his side. Maybe that would help break the tension he instinctively knew would be present?

  He'd always been a sucker for historical facts, and growing up, he'd dreamed of actually being a pirate king. The memory brought a rare smile to his lips. He couldn't have been more than four or five at the time, racing through the house while wearing his eye patch and hat and carrying a tiny plastic sword.

  The memory following it, however, was not as pleasant.

  "Here's your order. Can I get you anything else?"

  Drawn back to the present, he remembered Isabel's penchant for chocolate desserts and added two chocolate-drizzled scones to the order. While the barista bagged those, he pulled out his card to pay.

  The woman lifted a delicate eyebrow high at the sight of the black card but didn't say anything as he swiped it and added a generous tip. "Thanks for the info," he said.

  "Any time. Come back again soon."

  He lifted the bag and coffee carrier and quickly left the coffee shop only to pause along the sidewalk entrance to the apartment upstairs.

  He stared up at the second-floor window. You've secured billion-dollar deals. You can handle one tiny woman.

  But could he?

  What would it be like seeing her again? Would he feel the same instant pull to Isabel as he had in Vegas? Chemistry so strong he hadn't been able to keep himself from touching her? Or had it been the dim lights, their celebration of her show, not to mention his own melancholy at the time, combined with Isabel's bright, smiling persona that had charmed him into thinking it was more than a hookup?

  Everett inhaled before opening the outer door. The interior held a musty yet coffee-and-chocolate-tinged scent.

  The stairs squeaked as he made his way up them to a hallway and the single door at the end, and once again he paused to collect himself.

  In the days since leaving Las Vegas, he'd had a background check performed on Isabel. That's how he knew about the apartment and her family, and he now had a better understanding of her relationship with Michael Devoncourt. They weren't blood-related cousins but merely the children of best friends, a group whose connections dated back long before Isabel and Michael were born.

  He couldn’t imagine having a family that size, even an extended one. Though he supposed his father’s seven wives and their children would count as his extended family if one chose to think of them that way. He didn’t…but only because he’d never had much contact with any of them.

  Everett knocked softly and waited. And waited.

  Knocking again received the same response, and after choking down his disappointment because not a single sound could be heard on the other side, he retraced his steps.

  The barista who'd filled his coffee order was walking down the sidewalk toward the back of the building with a bag of trash and saw him exiting the apartment entrance.

  "Oh. Hello again," she said, her expression full of curiosity. "Can I help you with something?"

  Everett felt ridiculous, like a teenager hiding in the bushes to scope out his crush, and was thankful he'd left Isabel's coffee and scones outside her door. "No, thanks."

  "Not home, huh?" she asked with a head tilt toward the door.

  "I'll try again some other time." He'd hoped the evening hour meant catching Isabel at home so their conversation could remain private, but instead of planting himself on one of the outdoor benches or upstairs in the hallway and waiting for her like a stalker, he felt it best to move on. In the meantime, he'd drink his coffee and…maybe take a walk on the beach? Jacob and Tomas would not approve, but again, incognito had its benefits. No one would guess he'd be anywhere near Carolina Cove, much less out of New York City.

  "You know, when Izzy stopped by yesterday, she said something about a baby shower for a friend at her parents' house. I believe it was this evening."

  He tucked the information back with a nod. "Thanks. Maybe I'll stop by there."

  "I could give her a message if you like," the woman said next. "Text her that you're coming so she can be on the lookout for you?"

  "I appreciate that but I'm hoping to surprise her." He watched as the woman's gaze sparkled with unspoken questions.

  "I see. Well, have a good evening," she murmured.

  "Thanks. And thanks for the coffee. It's good."

  The woman walked away with the trash while he turned on his heel and headed back toward the boardwalk and the ocean.

  Once he reached the boardwalk, Everett paused long enough to pull up the recently acquired info on Isabel's family. He found her parents' address and lifted his head to get his bearings before he used his GPS and followed the boardwalk lining the dunes down several streets.

  The views from the wooden planks were spectacular, and with the seagulls squawking overhead and the waves crashing against the shore, some of the tension inside him eased with every darkening shade of the sky.

  He took off the sunglasses and shoved them into the V of his shirt for safekeeping, then stared up at the elegant house belonging to Adam and Mary Elizabeth Shipley.

  Knocking would mean coming up with an excuse for him seeking Isabel out in such a manner. Something a man didn't do at this time of the evening without a very good reason. He had one. But not one he wanted to share among her family and friends just yet.

  A child's laugh sounded from behind him and drew his immediate attention. He watched as a man, woman, and the little girl moved off the boardwalk and crossed to a house farther down the street, using the seaside entrance.

  What would it have been like to grow up here? Summers spent playing with your neighbors and siblings? Days on the sand rather than a cold and sterile boys' school or at camp studying, training, or working? Evenings putting together puzzles or blowing bubbles or playing at the arcade he’d noted a few doors down from the pier?

  The front door opened and a small group of women left the house. He nodded at them, catching the smiles and looks of interest as they passed him.

  Instinct kicked in and Everett hustled up the steps, catching the door before it closed. Maybe it was presumptuous of him to simply enter, but given the crowd, he’d take his chances.

  He paused just inside, noting the elegant furnishings and party decorations as well as the remaining well-dressed guests chatting in small groups as they gathered purses and jackets.

  Laughter drew his attention, and he followed the sound into what appeared to be a living room. A balloon arch lined the wall of windows facing the ocean, and a mountain of gifts in baby-oriented bags were stacked in and around an empty chair.

  Everett heard a familiar laugh and turned toward the left, zeroing in on Isabel's blond hair in the adjoining kitchen. She laughed again at something someone said, the sound throaty just as tempting as he remembered.

  Silence descended the moment one of the women with Isabel spotted him. Several ladies now stared his way, and Isabel turned to see what had captured their attention and turned the chatty group silent.

  "Hello. May we help you?" an older woman asked, giving him a wary glance.

  He forced his attention away from Isabel and on to the woman. "Yes. Please, forgive the intrusion."

  Isabel looked wide-eyed and completely shell-shocked as recognition dawned, and Everett questioned his timing once more. Maybe he should've waited to find her, but having spent the week unable to contact her, he hadn't wanted to wait another second. "I apologize for letting myself in, but the door was open and… I'm Everett Drake, a friend of Isabel's."

  "Well, don't just stand there. Come in," another woman said, sliding Isabel a questioning glance.

  When Isabel remained unmoving and mute, he chuckled and hoped she wouldn't come to and make a scene before he could explain himself. "Surprise."

  Isabel's throat moved as she swallowed hard, her hand fluttering in front of her. In the other, she held a small plate of finger food.

  "Isabel?" the older woman said.

  Isabel finally straightened to her full height and set the plate aside, moving quickly to where he stood. "Everett," she said, greeting him with a strained smile.

  He didn't allow the forced cheerfulness to bother him. He imagined she was quite surprised to see him.

  Whispering for his ears only under the guise of a hug, she asked, "What are you doing here?"

  His gaze swept over the many feminine faces watching their every move before he lowered his lashes and planted a chaste kiss on her cheek to disguise his murmur. "We need to talk."

  "About?"

  "The fact that we're legally married, wife."

  Chapter Three

  Izzy wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. She'd go willingly, like a human sacrifice. Toss herself into the volcano and sing on the way down if that’s what it took to get this moment to be a bad dream.

  Anything to get away from the stares of the Babes, Amelia, and her sister-in-law, as well as local celeb and professional matchmaker Marsali Jones, all of whom watched her like hawks.

  Her sisters had also lingered behind to pitch in for baby shower cleanup and entered the room from wherever they'd been chatting with the last of the guests, but now the combined stares left Isabel wishing Everett had timed his arrival to…well, never.

  Had he said wife?

  "Isabel, is everything all right?" her mama asked in an obvious attempt to get their handsome guest to repeat his whispered words louder for their benefit.

  Isabel felt the heat of embarrassment rolling off her in sweaty, unladylike waves and wondered if her mother and the rest of those watching could see her mortification.

  She didn't know how, didn't know why, but what had happened in Vegas had not stayed in Vegas and now stood in front of her in all six feet four inches of sexiness with a stare that made her knees weak even now—despite the bomb he'd just dropped.

  Had he really said wife?

  "Iz?" Amelia murmured, snapping Isabel out of the fear-laced fog shrouding her.

  "Isabel, where are your manners?" her mother said.

  "Yeah, sis, introduce us," Allie urged.

  Knowing she had to get her act together fast, Isabel made the mistake of meeting Allie's gaze and found her eldest sister's shrewd eyes narrowed on her with all the caught-you knowingness a sibling could possess.

  Isabel's chest squeezed with the inability to breathe properly, and she actually seemed to have a small panic attack—because wouldn’t that just be the thing to happen next? Anxiety sucked and panic attacks were from the devil himself, but right now?

  It might get her out of the room.

  Not for the first time, Izzy regretted tattling on Allie so many times as a kid. Maybe if she hadn't, Allie would've run interference instead of adding to the chaos currently making her entire body sweat like an MMA fighter. "Um, yeah. Of course. This is, um, Everett."

  Did her voice have to sound so...husky?

  The night with Everett presented itself in adrenaline-fueled, detailed memories and images, but one thing was for certain, the marriage wasn't real. She couldn't have messed up that much. Could she?

  They.

  They couldn't have messed up that badly. Because he had been there, too. All seventy-six inches of him. "Everett, th-this is my mother, Mary Elizabeth, my aunts Tessa, Cheryl, Adaline, and Rayna Jo. Best friend and mommy-to-be, Amelia, her sister-in-law, Marsali, and my sisters, Allie and Sophia."

  The gorgeous man next to her chuckled softly and accepted her mother's outstretched hand, shaking it gently.

  "Ladies. I thought my timing was off, but I can see now that it was perfect," Everett said, smiling at the group ogling him like a sweet treat.

  "It's wonderful to meet you," her mama said, the sentiment echoed by the other Babes, who smiled waaay too widely.

  It was true that the man was as handsome as they came, not to mention charming, and obviously not a bum sleeping on the beach as part of his attempt to find himself.

  You were twenty…and into musicians. You've grown up since then.

  But in a fit of anger, her twenty-year-old self had still brought the beach bum to meet her parents and had paid him to sit through a torturous dinner after they'd attempted to set her up with someone they approved of—even though that someone had date raped a girl she'd known in high school. It just proved how no one really knew anyone. Not really. Lots of things happened behind closed doors that no one talked about.

  "Likewise."

  Once the Babes finished making a fuss over him and more handshakes were completed, an awkward silence settled over the room.

  "Uh, Everett, Isabel didn't mention you'd be visiting us," her mother said, giving Isabel a stern glance.

  "She didn't know," he said. "We met while we were in Vegas after Michael suggested I check out her showcase. With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching and because I had a meeting scheduled with Michael in New York next week, I thought I'd switch things up and come see the town they've told me so much about."

  "You're a friend of Michael's?" Adaline asked.

  "Miss Adaline is Michael's Mom," Isabel said softly.

  Things finally clicked in the muck of her brain, and Isabel sucked in a breath. "And Everett is one of Michael's fraternity buddies."

  And this was a prank. That was it!

  They'd pranked Michael with the fake wedding pics from the fake wedding chapel, and now the two frat boys were pranking her by saying it was real.

  A huff of a laugh escaped her as relief filled her body and she hid the sound with a cough, her mind scrambling to figure out how she could turn the tables back on them.

  "A Columbia man," Cheryl said as though that alone sealed Everett's authenticity as a human being.

  "I am," Everett said with a nod and a smile that brought sighs from all the Babes.

  Izzy fought the urge to roll her eyes.

  Men. Her handsome male cousins could do no wrong, and now all Everett had to do was smile and the Babes turned to mush.

  Just like that he won them over. How was that possible?

  She could do a handstand and balance a ball on her nose and still not get the smiling, approving looks from the Babes.

  Then again, she supposed her balancing act wasn't exactly comparable to the overachieving men in her extended family. Did they all have to be doctors and architects and such?

  That kinda put some pressure on a girl who’d dropped out of community college, beauty school, and real estate classes.

  "Please, come sit down. Would you like something to drink? A snack?" Mary Elizabeth said. "As you can see, we have plenty left over. I'd be happy to make you a plate. The food was quite delicious."

  "We definitely know how to throw a party," Rayna Jo added.

  Isabel watched as Everett dipped his head and smiled until the dimples on his cheeks came out to play as a result. He shook his head after a glance down at her, however.

  "Later, perhaps. Congratulations," he said to Amelia before his hand settled on Isabel's shoulder and gently squeezed.

  "I’ll let you get back to the party. Walk me outside," Everett suggested in a no-nonsense tone.

  "Of course." Izzy glanced at Amelia and found her bestie frowning much the way Allie was. Like she knew this wasn't a normal visit from a normal friend and that things just weren't...normal.

  But they didn’t know what she knew, and when she got her hands on Michael for undoubtedly setting up this little scheme…

  "Ladies, enjoy the rest of your evening," Everett said. "I'm sorry to have intruded."

  "Nonsense. You haven't bothered us at all, and I'm sure you were excited to see Izzy. I hope we'll see you again soon?" her mama asked. "I know, come back tomorrow. We have all this food. I'll have a brunch for everyone. Michael and his brother included," she said. "You must come."

  A chorus of pleases erupted from the Babes, and after another glance down at her, Everett nodded.

  "Of course. I'd be honored."

  "Ten-ish?" her mother suggested.

  "Yes, ma'am. I'll be here."

  Everett kept his hand on Izzy's shoulder, and now that he'd agreed to return and was free to go, he turned them both toward the front door. The moment they stepped out of sight and earshot, she grabbed his hand and shoved it off of her with a glare. “You should be ashamed of yourself.”

  “For meeting your family?”

  "For this prank! That wasn't funny. You almost had me," she growled as she yanked the front door open and walked out.

  "I don’t understand. What do you mean?"

  "When you said—" She stopped and waited until he'd closed the door behind them. "Look, you're team Izzy, you hear me?"

  "Isabel—”

  “It’s just Izzy. Now, how are we going to turn this around on Michael again?"

  "Ah,” he said softly. “Isabel, it's no prank."

  Everett made the statement and crossed his arms over his broad chest as he stared down at her. Izzy had never felt short at five six, but with him towering a solid ten inches above her, she felt small and feminine and more than a little angry that she couldn't take her frustration out on him by kicking him in the shins like she wanted. "Ha ha. Enough. We are not married. Michael put you up to this after we pranked him with those pics, so let's hurry up and think of a way we can turn this around. I'm not going down without a fight."

 

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